ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Sept. 2, 2009)  The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that archery hunting for deer opens September 15, 2009 and continues through January 30, 2010. Last season a total of 26,346 deer (10,114 antlered and 16,232 antlerless) were taken with archery equipment, up from 22,064 in the 2007- 08 hunting season.

Archery hunting continues to be an effective and important part of our deer management strategy, said DNR Deer Project Leader Brian Eyler. In recent years archery hunters have demonstrated their willingness to harvest more antlerless deer which contributes positively to deer population management in the state. It is also a great way to enjoy the autumn forests in Maryland.

The deer hunting regulations vary between the two Deer Management Regions in Maryland. Region A consists of Garrett and Allegany counties and Region B includes the remaining 21 counties. The white-tailed deer archery bag limit for Deer Management Region A is two deer, one antlered and one antlerless. Additionally, no more than two antlerless deer may be taken on public lands in Region A with any combination of the bow, muzzleloader, and firearm bag limits, excluding the Junior Deer Hunt Day.

In most of Deer Management Region B, archers may take two antlered and ten antlerless white-tailed deer. However, a second antlered deer may not be harvested until two antlerless deer have been taken. Archers in the Suburban Deer Archery Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince Georges counties), may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer.

Sika deer archery season is open from September 15, 2009 through January 30, 2010 in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The sika deer bag limit is one antlered and one antlerless sika deer per season. An antlered sika deer is defined as a deer with at least one antler visible above the hairline.

Crossbow deer hunting will be permitted statewide from October 1  October 15, 2009 and January 15  30, 2010. Any deer taken with a crossbow will count toward the hunters appropriate regional Bow Bag Limit. In the Region B Suburban Deer Archery Zone (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties), archery hunters may use a crossbow throughout the entire bow season. Crossbows are also legal statewide for all hunters during the firearm and muzzleloader seasons.

Successful Maryland deer hunters are reminded that they must register their deer either by calling 1-888-800-0121 or through the internet at www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us. Hunters must immediately affix a Field Tag on the deers head and complete the Maryland Big Game Harvest Record. Hunters registering a deer will receive a confirmation number that must also be recorded on the hunters Big Game Harvest Record.

Deer taken with a straight limb bow, recurve bow, or compound bow will be registered as taken with a vertical bow. Deer taken with a crossbow will be recorded as such. This will allow DNR biologists to continue to monitor any influence crossbows may have on Marylands deer management program.

A limited number of Sundays will be open to bow hunting during the 2009-2010 hunting season. Bow hunting opportunities on Sundays vary by county. For a complete listing of Sunday bow hunting opportunities, please refer to the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping, 2009-2010 or visit DNR online.

Complete bag limits, season dates, deer registration procedures and bow hunting regulations can be found on the DNR website, www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide. The Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping, 2009-2010 issued with each hunting license also contains detailed information about all of Marylands hunting seasons.